Menez-Hom-VTT.jpg
©Louise Garin

Where to mountain bike in Brittany?

Five resorts for mountain biking in a natural setting

Are you ready for an adventure? Thanks to its wide variety of landscapes, Brittany is ideal for mountain biking. With wild moors, undergrowth, rocky mounts, the seaside and rural paths, there are many marked routes that combine sport and nature. Whether you’re a thrill-seeker or you’re looking for new challenges, there’s something to suit every pace. We have selected five unmissable spots to enjoy the pleasures of mountain biking.

En un coup d'œil

1. A dip into the heart of Brittany

Guerlédan Lake

Enjoy a meeting with the unspoilt nature in Guerlédan and its huge 400-hectare artificial lake! From Guerlédan mountain bike resort, you can rent everything you need for your adventure. Discover the 300 km of marked routes emerging from the edges of the largest water reservoir in Brittany.  All around you, Quénécan forest unfolds, covering 3,000 hectares and offering varied landscapes of undergrowth and heathers. It’s an ideal spot for beginners and experienced mountain bikers. 12 circuits with four levels of difficulty allow you to discover these natural landscapes steeped in history. Chapels, manors and vestiges mark the way. Join the Nantes-Brest canal and cycle alongside the many waterways between moors and peat bogs. Do you want to fine-tune your practice? There are instructors available for all levels of mountain bikers. Hop on!

Mountain bike base in Guerlédan


2. A top mountain bike spot

Monts d’Arrée

Welcome to the heart of the wild panoramas of Monts d’Arrée, in the Armorique regional nature park, a well-known mountain biking site. There are 15 marked circuits between Monts d’Arrée and the Black Mountains. The choice is yours! Adjust your helmet and hop on your mountain bike to slalom between the Roc’h along your way. Enter Huelgoat forest and be captivated by the mysterious atmosphere. You might even hear the fairies whispering in the hollows of a rocky chaos? For the more skilled, the “Kostez ar Menez” circuit is one of the longest in Finistère, culminating at 680 m after a 45-km trail! Keep going to Mont Saint-Michel de Brasparts and its chapel overlooking the Yeun Elez peat bogs. Just a little more effort and you’ll be able to enjoy a 360° panorama of these legendary lands. The perfect playground for mountain bikers, Monts d’Arrée hosts “Les Roc’h des Monts d’Arrée” every September, where 6,000 cyclists pedal along the marked trails of these mountains.

Mountain bike base in Monts d’Arrée – Black Mountains

3. The peninsula by bike

Crozon

Head to the Crozon peninsula and its watery scenery! A mountain bike is the ideal way to explore the 300 km of marked trails and to discover the treasures of the coast lapped by the Iroise Sea. There are around 20 secure trails in this idyllic setting, for beginners and experienced riders alike. From Cap de la Chèvre in the south, to Pointe de Pen-Hir in the north, the edge of the world awaits you! Keep going to Vallée de l’Aulne and let the changing landscapes guide you. Thrill-seekers can attempt the 34 km from Telgruc-sur-Mer.  Don’t miss “Le panoramique”, a 14-km circuit around Menez-Hom, the highest point of the Black Mountains. You’ll need to go right to the top to understand where its name came from! From here, the bay of Douarnenez looms in an impressive panorama where the colours seem to have been painted by hand. You’ll soon forget the little climbs when you embrace this exceptional view!

Mountain bike base of Crozon Peninsula – Porzay – Menez Hom

4. Ready to tackle a variety of landscapes?

Mont-Saint-Michel Bay

Starting at Saint-Père Marc en Poulet and Cancale, this is a wonderful route in the land of Saint-Malo! The 207-km marked routes will take you to some exceptional sites in northern Brittany. Six circuits from 16 to 72 km will take you along the Emerald Coast, its steep cliffs and its beautiful little bays. Pedal to wonderful Cancale and its famous oysters, treasures of Breton gastronomy! On your way, you will meet the spectacular panoramas of Mont-Saint-Michel Bay, changing with the tides. Opt for the interior circuits and ride alongside the banks of the Rance Valley, dotted with charming fishing villages. Do you like a challenge? The longest route, “Entre Rance et Baie”, covers 72 km and has a 678 m altitude difference. A great way to test your endurance! If you need a break, stop in Saint-Suliac, one of the most beautiful villages in France. There, you can stroll through the narrow streets imbued with the memory of the fishermen who left for Newfoundland. You’ll find it hard to leave!

Mountain bike base of Saint-Père – Cancale


5. Explore the green lung of Morbihan

Lanvaux moors

Are you ready for a mountain bike ride across the wild lands of Morbihan? Conquer the Lanvaux moors and the characteristic landscapes scattered with forests and heathers. Here, the granite ridge stretches east to west for 70 km and culminates at altitude 175 m, tracing the contours of a natural area for a unique experience of the sport. Sérent is the starting point for three of the 14 routes proposed, from 12 to 25 km and suitable for everyone. On site, you can get ready for your trip: repair kit, tyre pumping station, washing station and also equipment hire. Chapels and megalithic sites will mark your way. Don’t forget to stop in Malestroit, a little medieval city on the banks of the Nantes-Brest canal. In Bignan, take a break at Domaine de Kerguéhennec, a contemporary art centre in a 175-hectare green setting. It’s a great way to connect cycling with discovering heritage.

Mountain bike base in Lanvaux

What’s a mountain bike resort?

Like ski resorts, mountain bike resorts are strategic places for practising this sport, whether as a family hobby or as an athletic exploit. These infrastructures are respectful of the environment and are located in natural areas ideal for cycling. The circuits are marked with their degree of difficulty and corresponding signage. Mountain bike resorts also have many facilities to help improve and supervise activities. You can hire a mountain bike, clean and service your equipment, and also benefit from the personalised service of qualified monitors. That way, you can set off safely with peace of mind!

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

Official website of tourism in Brittany
Close